How to Manage Correlated Forex Positions

Another tricky component to risk management is the ability to control exposure with correlated trades. It’s not uncommon to see similar technical setups among pairs with the same base or counter currency, so there may be instances when you’d wind up taking correlated trades.

For instance, you spot a rising channel on AUD/USD and you decide to set a buy order at the bottom of the channel. At the same time, you also saw an ascending trend line and bullish divergence on AUD/JPY so you also decide to take that trade. Meanwhile, EUR/AUD has shown a head and shoulders pattern and a possible neckline break, so you also set a short order below the support area.

When these three trades are all opened, then you will have three correlated trades that could either triple your win potential if the Australian dollar keeps rallying or triple your losses if AUD suddenly sells off.

Forex Position Management Tips

In addition, you should also take note of currencies that share correlations with other majors. For instance, the euro and the Swiss franc tend to move in tandem, so a long EUR/USD and a short USD/CHF trade are often seen to be correlated as well.

It’s not that traders are discouraged to take correlated trades, but it is imperative to be aware of how such currencies can move in the same direction. If you’d like to be cautious, then you can divide your risk for the number of correlated trades you are taken or simply scale down your position sizes if you think the pairs you are trading have close to the same probability of winning or losing.

Forex websites may contain correlation tables for major and exotic currency pairs, which can help one determine if any risk management adjustments must be made. Another option could be to hedge these multiple correlated positions with an opposite trade so that the losses can be minimized if the trades all don’t go in your favor.

Something else to take note of when weighing currency correlations is the volatility of the pair you are trading. Bear in mind that some might move in your direction faster than other pairs, and when the move appears to be exhausted for some pairs, you could also think about reducing your exposure for the remaining trades that are still open.

These changes in correlations can be explained by shifting interest rate expectations or monetary policy biases, but it is always important to keep these at the back of your mind when you are taking trades with the same currency.

Samuel Rae is an active retail trader across a variety of assets, including currencies, stocks and commodities and the author of Diary of a Currency Trader (Harriman House). His personal strategy focuses primarily on classical technical charting patterns with a fundamentally supportive bias, combined with a strict, risk management-driven approach to entries and exits. He is an Economics graduate from Manchester University, UK.

Risk Warning: All information on this website, including any opinions, charts, prices, news, data, Buy/Sell signals, research and analysis is provided as general market commentary and does not constitute any investment advice. Forexminute is not liable for any damage or loss, including but not limited to, any loss of investment, which may be based either directly orindirectly on the use of or reliance on such information. Before deciding whether or not to take part in foreign exchange or financial markets or any other type of financial instrument, please carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience and risk appetite. Do not invest more money than you can afford to lose. Note that the high level of leverage in forex trading may work against you as well as for you. Please seek advice of an independent financial advisor if you are not fully aware about the risks associated with foreign exchange trading. Forex trading on margin involves considerable exposure to high risk, and may not be suitable for all investors. Forexminute does not endorse any companies, products or services which are represented on Forexminute.com The information on this website is subject to change without notice.